Gibbney Reserve Upgrade

Background

Gibbney Reserve is located between Queen Street and Mephan Street in Maylands. It is primarily used for organised sport with some recreation, children's play, and is an off-leash dog exercise area.

The aim of the upgrade is to improve the amenity of the reserve and facilitate passive and recreational use by local residents and park users through landscaping, new play equipment and other upgrades.

The upgrade is funded by the Australian Government's Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.

Guided by the City's Parks and Play Space Classification Hierarchy, a concept plan for the upgrade has been developed. 

Through the development of the City's Play Space Strategy in 2018, Maylands Primary School students shared their visions for the Gibbney Reserve "ideal play space". Some of these concept designs can be viewed in the Document Library.

As part of the upgrade, the City will provide accessible pathways, park furniture and a play space. Some grassed areas that are not thriving under the tree canopy may be turned into native gardens or space for additional trees (eco-zoning) to improve attractiveness, save water and reduce maintenance costs.

Community Input

The City sought feedback from the community on the concept plan at the end of November 2021, which was to be considered alongside technical advice, budget allocations and the hierarchy classification.

We wanted to know how you use the reserve and what you would specifically like to see in the play space design. The type of play equipment and additional park infrastructure will be determined by community feedback and subject to budget availability. The budget for the upgrade is $360,000.

What feedback did we receive from residents and park users?

The main themes were:

• The main reasons people visit Gibbney Reserve are children’s play, physical exercise and fitness and walking dogs.
• There is support to remove the existing play equipment on the eastern side of the reserve and not replace it in that location, but to create a new play precinct on the southern side.
• The most popular activities for children were climbing, swinging, sliding, and nature and imagination play in mixed-style play equipment.
• A preference for a fitness/exercise equipment node to be included.
• Adequate shade over play equipment and seating.
• In support of eco-zoning, local shrub species planted in mulch to provide ground cover and reduces water use; and the planting of additional native trees to provide natural shade.
• Concerns about cars parking along Queen Street verge blocking the footpath.

What is included in the final concept plan?

Based on what we heard was important to you, the final concept plan prioritises connectivity, accessibility and play for park users.

• Accessible connecting pathways
• Landscaping
• Re-alignment of the footpath along Queen Street
• Park infrastructure such as picnic shelter, seating, BBQ, water fountains
• An exercise equipment node
• A new play precinct on the southern side of the reserve.

In line with community feedback, the existing children’s play equipment on the eastern side of the reserve is to be removed and not replaced in that location. The new play space will incorporate nature and imaginative based play within a mulch softfall, toddler and sand related play and an all-abilities area within a rubber softfall. These play areas will support popular play activities for children including climbing, swinging, sliding, nature and imagination play. Shade sails over parts of the play equipment and the planting of native tree species will provide shade cover.

A combination of dynamic and static exercise equipment in a cluster formation will be installed under the existing shade sails on the eastern side of the reserve.

Respondents indicated support for crushed gravel informal parking along Mephan Street. Due to budget limitations and an overwhelming request for a variety of play elements, it was decided that the funds would be better used to enhance play and other accessibility opportunities for park users. Therefore, informal crushed gravel parking will not be included.

Concerns were raised about cars parking along the Queen Street verge blocking the footpath. This will be addressed by the re-alignment of the pathway to alongside the reserve perimeter bollards. It will allow for informal car parking along the reserve verge, while ensuring the community can safely access the reserve.

What's next?

The Gibbney Reserve landscape, play space and exercise station upgrades are now open to the public!